publish time

21/05/2017

author name Arab Times

publish time

21/05/2017

‘Good against evil, not West ... Islam’ - ‘Drive extremists out of your places of worship, communities’
US President Donald Trump (right), and HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah take part in a bilateral meeting at a hotel in Riyadh on May 21.
RIYADH, May 21, (Agencies): The Arab-Islamic-US summit stresses the need of further American and Islamic cooperation in the face of mounting challenges, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah said on Sunday.Addressing the firstever Arab-Islamic-US summit to take place on Saudi soil, His Highness the Amir noted that the meeting was a testament to the Islamic world’s eagerness to stave off the growing threat of terrorism, which has marred the sacrosanct image of the Islamic faith.His Highness the Amir pointed out that the summit takes place amid a trying time for the region and will help exonerate Islamic nations from accusations of sponsoring terrorism. On the summit, His Highness the Amir said it represents a genuine opportunity for Islamic nations to work closely with the US in efforts to exterminate the scourge of terrorism, which in turn, leads to positive ripple effects.Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir noted that the summit could prove to be a launchpad for productive cooperation between the US and Islamic nations, which will ultimately lead to the defeat of terrorism. Moreover, His Highness the Amir cited numerous measures taken by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations to keep the forces of extremism at bay and foster a spirit of amity and goodwill.His Highness the Amir highlighted the Summit as a vociferous message of determination and strength, saying that efforts to fight extremism will remain firm and unyielding. His Highness the Amir said that he was hopeful the monumental meeting would address common concerns, chief among them is to have lasting peace in the Middle East.The summit is attended by the US President Donald Trump and leaders and heads of delegations from 55 Arab and Islamic states. “The deteriorating situations in Syria force us to move as quickly as possible to end this disaster. We believe that the United States of America has a great role in putting an end to this conflict while at the same time we appreciate its efforts in this regard”, His Highness the Amir pointed out. With regard to the Middle East peace process, its stalemate underscores the need for a breakthrough in this issue, as this alleviates the tension in the region, which is the cause of all the negative repercussions in the region, His Highness the Amir said. His Highness the Amir noted that in this regard, “we call on the United States, being the only country capable of exerting pressure on the Palestinian and Israeli sides, to find a just and comprehensive solution”. “We believe that the relations between states of the region must be based on the basic rules of international law, foremost of which is respect for the sovereignty and systems of States and non-interference in their internal affairs under any pretext and the deepening of good-neighborliness”.“In this context, we seek to achieve full commitment to these bases on Gulf-Iranian relations, and we hope that the new Iranian presidency will embody these foundations in order to achieve security and stability in the region”, His Highness the Amir affirmed. His Highness the Amir said that “while we appreciate what our alliance is doing in the face of terrorism, we are still being called upon to exert more effort and cooperation to eliminate ‘DAESH’ as a priority for the world to enjoy security and peace.“The achievements of the coalition countries and the US-led forces to liberate Mosul and the city of Al-Rigga reflect this cooperation and coordination”, His Highness added, pointing out that in this context, “we stress that the elimination of ‘DAESH’, its ideologies and policies in the region necessitates the continuation of the collective international confrontation and eliminate the economic and social environment that feeds it, and that will only be achieved by providing sustainable development and improving social justice.“With this new era, we look forward to working together to strengthen our strategic partnership in all its dimensions, so that together we can face the challenges that surround our region and our world”, His Highness the Amir concluded.